Abstract This paper addresses the Afro-centric Social Work paradigm, giving the definition and meaning of "Afro-centricity" and further describing the values and concepts of Afro-centricity as a social science paradigm on which social work practice can be built. The article describes the origins and principles of the Afro-centric or African-centered paradigm, the relationship of Afro-centricity to social problems, and explains the reasons for the emergence of an Afro-centric social science perspective.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Afro-centricity - Definition and Meaning
Afro-centricity as an Emerging Paradigm in Social Work Practice
Effects on Male and Female Groups
Conclusion
From the Paper "Peoples of African origin have a unique place within a multicultural society. The history of African Americans in the United States differs from those who came to US as immigrants. Despite African Americans' social and economic progress, they continue to lag behind White America in the areas of income, education, and health (McKinnon, 2003). While several models of social work practice that can assist colored people have emerged, the concept "Afro-centricity" better describes the cultural values of people of African descent and deployed for the social work practice. Social workers are encouraged to follow the Afro-centric paradigm because of its emphasis on eliminating oppression of the colored people."
Abstract This paper examines the success of companies that shift from being product-centric to customer-centric. In companies that have a customer-as-king philosophy growth has been remarkable since adopting that outlook. Companies that focus on creating great products lag behind in the marketplace. 3M is used as an example of a company that changed its direction to customer-centric. The paper cites several articles that confirm this phenomenon. The paper concludes that companies that grasp the notion that business should be built around customers, not products, are setting themselves up for success.
From the Paper "Beyond that problem, the basic problem with 3M's Web site was that it was concentrating all its "internal silos" rather than on "its customer's needs." So, 3M got synchronized, and now presents a more "unified fact to its customers" by storing all "customer relationships and product configurations" in a single database. This transformation from the awkward presentation of products and slipshod system of customer record keeping - similar to what Thompson Financial did - is called moving from a product-centric company to a customer-centric company. Instead of finding "customers for its products," both these firms (and untold hundreds of other companies) now concentrate on finding "products for its customers," Sawhney writes."
Abstract This paper focuses on the issue of African-American women and feminism, from the 1960s to the present, while focusing on the views and opinions of various authors such as Patricia Hill Collins. Collins, a powerful voice in matters of black feminist epistemology, contends that because black women have access to both the Afro-centric and feminist standpoints, then, for a full analysis, both traditions should be represented through an "alternative epistemology." Collins also states that the key dimension of an Afro-centric feminist epistemology is the black woman's centrality in families and community organizations.
The writer of this paper discusses the issues that pertained to many African-American women in the 1960s and 1970s, who felt that the objectives and practices of feminism pertained mainly to white women. In the early 1970s, black feminists challenged this situation, questioning the assumption that white feminists spoke for all women and demanded -and eventually were given- women's studies programs on the experiences, culture and literature of black women. At that time, the activist black women who made the demands were denounced for espousing black nationalism, nonetheless, appropriate courses on "women of color" were eventually added to the women's studies' curriculum, which are detailed in this paper. This paper examines the progress and empowerment of African-American women over the years who are now able to lead in ways they had never thought possible, prior to 1960.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Main Body of the Paper: Literature Review
Epistemology
Conclusion
References
References Not Included in the Body of the Paper
From the Paper "In her book, Collins suggests that the Black feminist thought processes speaks to "the importance that knowledge plays in empowering oppressed people." Moreover, Black feminist thought offers a "fundamental paradigmatic shift in how we think about oppression," though the process of reconceptualizing "the social relations of domination and resistance." Black feminist thought also empowers "subordinate groups" by infusing them with "new knowledge" that helps them define the reality of their own existence. What is impressive about Collins - besides the fact that clearly she's brilliant, alert to what real Black women are doing and feeling - is that she is fair-minded when it comes to her scholarship, and generally eschews long and emotional harangues about the white culture, and about white feminist epistemology that has in the past stood in the way of African-American feminists reaching out to the world with their vision."
Abstract This paper discusses Afro-Brazilian dance forms. It looks briefly at the history and origins of the dance form and discusses its importance in understanding the culture in Brazil. The paper then focuses on specific forms of Afro-Brazilian dance. It describes each dance form, the occasion in which the dance is used and how it is performed by the dancers.
Table of Contents:
Candomble
Samba
Capoeira
From the Paper "The Candomble dancing is a ceremonial, religious dance, done during one of the numerous terreiros de candomble scattered throughout the city of Bahaia. Women wear long skirts, usually colored ones. They dance to be respectful to the orixas, or gods. "Each deity represents a given force or element in nature, and has a favourite colour and type of food. Yemanja, for example, is the goddess of the sea, who usually dresses in blue and white. The favourite colour of Oxun, the goddess of beauty, is yellow. In the religious ceremonies, practitioners dress in the colours of the orixas and place food at the altar before singing special songs and dancing precisely choreographed steps to the sacred drums. The anthropomorphic nature of the orixa allows an intimate contact between believer and deity, and the highlight of the Candomble ceremony is the epiphany, or possession, when the orixa takes over the believer's body" (Davis)"
Abstract This paper explains that Coca Cola Company, which revolves its business around the customer's needs, wants. and demands, is structured on the framework of a "Customer-Centric" business design, composed of four strategic elements: customer selection, value capture, strategic control and scope. The author explains that the customer-centric model is a "pull-model", which embeds product innovation, manages demand proactively, and utilizes stochastic optimization methods to deal with variability. The paper concludes that the challenge facing companies today is the demand for redesign every five to seven years to achieve sustainable profit and shareholder value growth.
Table of Contents
Introduction
The Business Environment in Today's World
The Original Business Design of Coca Cola
Revamping of Business Design
Value Proposition and Core Competencies the Difference
Customer Satisfaction - Customer Loyalty
Summary and Conclusion
From the Paper "A customer may be satisfied without necessarily holding loyalty toward the product of a company. For example, when someone enters a store to purchase a soft drink and that individual prefers Coca Cola to Pepsi but the store is out of the Coca-Cola product the individual who then purchases a Pepsi instead of going to another store to procure a Coca Cola product is satisfied with the Coca Cola product but not loyal in purchasing habits. The loyal customer will go to another store to procure the desired and loyally chosen Coca Cola product. The loyal customer is the higher valued customer by the company."
Abstract The paper looks at the economic and social situation in the Oakwood/Eglinton areas, examining the integrationist efforts which have been undertaken to alleviate some of the struggles men, women and children face. The paper discusses the inclusionary tactics practiced by the larger communities housing Afro-Caribbean families and investigates the barriers which frustrate any sort of integrationist initiative. The paper concludes that the past and present have been difficult for recently-arrived Jamaicans in a city that prides itself on its racial tolerance, but there is hope that concerted community action can brighten the future.
From the Paper "The first thing which must be done in a paper of this sort is to look at the economic and social situation which exists within Oakwood and within Eglinton. In truth (simply by glancing at the ward profiles provided on the official web site of the City of Toronto), it appears as though Oakwood and Eglinton are not conjoined as many might think at first glance. Furthermore, a look at the city's neighborhood profiles is only a little more helpful - and it, too, marks the two areas as distinct. Be that as it may, some things can certainly be deduced which offer insight into how the Jamaican community is treated in Canada. For one thing, when looking at household income distribution in the neighborhood of Oakwood-Vaughan (for 2001), it is striking that the income bracket with the largest percentage of the population is that bracket housing those making $10,000 - $19,999 per annum. Ironically, the next-largest income bracket is comprised of those making $100,000 per annum or more (City of Toronto, "Oakwood-Vaughan: Social Profile #3," 3)."
Abstract This paper examines the business method of customer-centric marketing. It looks at the revolutionary business possibilities of e-commerce and the Internet, where customers and businesses are no longer bound to their physical location. The paper describes how the customer driven market place responds to consumers needs quickly, and that these business are empowered through the technology of interactive marketing and its seamless gathering of valuable user information.
From the Paper "The customer-centric business model is a necessary hybrid delivery system of good and services in today's business environment. With the advent of the Internet, and e-business, customers are no longer limited by traditional geographic parameters for their purchase choices. Other factors which established boundaries to the consumer's choices, such as limited knowledge of purchase options, and time constraints, or the inability to travel, and research options before making a purchase choice have been dissolved. Today's consumer is driving the marketplace in much more powerful ways, since he or she can sit at a desktop computer, and become aware of the options, prices, and product selection in minutes. "
Abstract This paper discusses how the customer-centric business model is a necessary hybrid delivery system of goods and services in today's business environment. It shows how, with the advent of the Internet and e-business, customers are no longer limited by traditional geographic parameters for their purchase choices. It also shows how other factors that have established boundaries to the consumer's choices, such as limited knowledge of purchase options, time constraints, the inability to travel and research options before making a purchase choice, have since been dissolved.
From the Paper "In a market economy, business managers are concerned with making a profit, but the guiding principle of business economics is not the maximization of profits by minimizing costs, it is the avoidance of loss, argued Peter Drucker, management guru and economist. "It is the first duty of a business to survive. This is not to say that profits are unimportant." An enterprise must make enough to cover future risks and to enable it to stay in business. Many firms miss this point. In cutting costs to maximize profits, they liquidate assets and under-invest in innovation Drucker suggests there is only one valid definition of business purpose: to create a customer. "It is the customer who determines what a business is. What the customer thinks he is buying, what he considers ?value,? is decisive."
Abstract This paper discusses how corporations can develop a customer centric business design to improve brand recognition and customer loyalty. This paper analyzes various concepts including value networks, value chains, customer value, and value proposition.
From the Paper "The contemporary marketplace is ultra competitive, thus perpetuating the necessity for increased growth and profitability in order to turn existing customers into "apostles" (Alessandra, 2003, para. 3). According to Alessandra (2003), creating apostles is imperative to increased customer satisfaction (para. 3). Word of mouth is free and companies should take advantage of this dynamic by developing a relationship with clientele and implementing a strategic "apostle-driven" focus. Jones and Sasser discuss and recognize how crucial it is for companies to attract and maintain the right customers or target group. Companies that focus growth strategies on increased sales and market share are neglecting to acknowledge how important customer satisfaction is to profit maximization."
Abstract Based on ten books written on the subjects of consumer behavior and customer service, this paper sets out to show whether customer centricity has been the focus of businesses for some time, and whether it has been addressed correctly. The writer explains that the study of customer retention information shows that what it takes to keep customers coming back is quite different from what it takes to attract new ones, and discusses various types of customer loyalty programs. From the literature four specific areas that need to be examined in order to help businesses improve customer focus are identified, as well as six factors that are often seen as imperative in improving customer retention, and five specific dimensions of service quality. The paper concludes that although most studies have indicated that retaining old customers is what really boosts business growth, many businesses still persist in spending more to get new customers who will cost them money by leaving, instead of spending less to retain loyal ones.
From the Paper "It is significant to remember when looking at customer centricity that people seldom stop patronizing a business simply because of ordinary interactions that they deal with when they shop there but instead because of the failure of the specific organization to handle situations that could be potentially problematic to the satisfaction of the customer (Bowen & Lawler, 1992). Personnel who come into contact with customers need to be able to think for themselves, take responsibility for their actions, and respond well to the pressure that often comes from customers who are angry or upset (Bowen & Lawler, 1992)."
Tags: success, customer satisfaction, effective personnel, problem solving, performance coaching communication
Abstract This paper explains that merengue, a combination of African and European musical influences that is uniquely Caribbean, is a distinctive, enduring musical form associated with the national identity of the Dominican Republic and the dictatorship of Trujillo, who mandated that it be played all the time. The author points out that, traditionally, merengue music was played with four primary instruments, each of which had their part to play within a basic 2/4 signature and a series of set periods that took the merengue in and out of call-and-response patterns. The paper relates that the merengue has changed over the years from a proletarian means of expression to an international medium, more Euro-centric in origin than African drumming or reggae, although it still represents an Afro-Caribbean synthesis of European forms.
From the Paper "One of the key representational artists to emerge for merengue during the 1960s was Johnny Ventura. Ventura brought outside influences to a new kind of merengue that was classically Dominican in flavor (and more direct than big-band salon merengue), but also brought some of the elements of disco into the equation. Ventura's brand of merengue utilized traditional form and instruments such as the guitar and guira, added an expanded horn section, and kept the rhythm steady with a bass drum. Ventura's lyrics were often full of social and political commentary, which brought new life to the standardized lyrics perpetuated under the restrictive dictatorship. Ventura also took some cues from the flash and glamour of soul and Motown singers from the United States, incorporating onstage dance-moves and stylish outfits. He is seen to have started what came to be the modern tradition of merengue groups, along with fellow innovator."
Abstract This paper explains that African culture retention is noticeable in many aspects of the American lifestyle. The author points out that the African heritage for U.S. blacks survived the vicious system of slavery, despite attempts to remove remnants of African culture from the slaves and to instill a European/white culture so that they could be more accepting of their situation. The paper relates that some distorted cultural practices such as violence, sometimes labeled as "African", are not even remotely related to any kind of link with the cultural diversity of the African continent. The author concludes that the issue of African cultural retention and the destruction of the African-American society is so intertwined that it is sometimes hard to examine them separately.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Tenets of African Culture In the United States
Conclusion
From the Paper "The retention component has also been used to damage the influence of African culture; for example acts of violence or family structure, and or social interactions have sometimes been linked to the African culture, or the travesty of slavery, or even more so, the cultural practices in Africa concerning relationships, marriage, and relationships. Liberating African American cultural identity will show that the African influence or content of this identity, although not in a pure form, offers a significant amount of positive influences."
Tags: slavery, afro-centricity, watermelon, violence, music
Abstract This paper is an overview of Afro-American history, beginning with slavery in the 1700s. The author looks at how slavery affected the nuclear family, both economically and psychologically, and how this pattern continues to be prevalent in today's Afro-American families. Some of the issues discussed include, the owner-slave relationship, marriages between slaves and how slavery affected children and their identity. The paper also looks at the post-Emancipation period and the hardships that the freed slaves continued to encounter including poverty, unemployment and racial discrimination. According to the author, migration from the South to the North was one of the most significant changes that occurred as a result of Emancipation. The Afro-American families' strong bond, which may not be categorized as a
'traditional' but 'extended' family can be traced back to the period of slavery and in this author's opinion, shows the strengths of the community as a whole.
From the Paper "Roberson reported that some of the migrating families were quite large, with six or seven children. It could be very difficult to find housing to old a family of that size, even with extensive family and community support. So often, these parents would have to make hard decisions to break the family apart, at least temporarily. Some of the children would be taken in by aunts and uncles, but given that the extended family was so strong, connected and well bonded together, this wasn?t as wrenching as it might have been. The extended family continued to watch out for and support the new arrivals until they had work and a place to stay. (Roberson, accessed 2002)"
Abstract This paper explains that customer-centricity as a concept is applicable to virtually every area of the business paradigm. The paper also points out that customer satisfaction, as determined by many quantitative and qualitative factors, is the primary measure of the successful customer-centric organization.The paper further emphasizes that customer satisfaction and employee satisfaction can be seen as two sides of the same process. The paper then looks at ways that various companies utilize a consumer-centric approach that encourages the testing of new or amended policies in real-world situations.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Customer Satisfaction and Total Quality Management
Customer Relations: Caring for the Customer as a Unique Individual
Marketing Programs
Sales Automation
Support/Services Automations Software
Employee Satisfaction
Working Environment and the Happy Employee
Good Customer Service and Treating Employees Fairly
Human Resources Management
Business Intelligence
Conclusion
From the Paper "As computer manufacturers, Acer, and companies like it, would probably appreciate the electronic help that has become available in recent years within the field of customer relations. In today's business world, customer-centric organizations may take advantage of applications that are specially designed to handle the overall problems of customer relations. Customer Relationship Management, or CRM, software consists of programs designed to serve the needs of a company's customers - wherever those customers might be found."
Tags: policies, social identity theory, behavioral decision theory, improvements, best buy
Abstract This study will seek to understand the different ways that violence and substance abuse can be stopped, or at least, minimized in the current events of social working. By using the Code of Ethics of National Association of Social Workers, we can see how this issue can be dealt with along these guidelines. By making new approaches to the Afro-American community in this regard, the strategies and approaches that are possible will be attended to here. By creating out reach programs in various neighborhoods to help teach the black community these devastating issues on drug abuse, and violence (gang and domestic), perhaps this and other methods of social construction can help build a new culture for Afro-Americans in America at this time
